The Anatomy of the Salamanderby Eric T. B. Francis |
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Francis remains the starting place for virtually any rigorous study of salamander comparative or functional anatomy, and is an indispensable reference for studies of urodele developmental anatomy, endocrinology, and physiology.
––James Hanken, from the Foreword |
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| Francis’s anatomy of the salamander, published in 1934, remains one of the standard references in the herpetological and anatomical literature. It covers the anatomy of the European fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra, in 11 detailed chapters including external features, skeleton, muscles, nervous system, vascular system, urogenital system, ductless glands, and the skin and sense organs. The accounts are extremely thorough. For example, that on cranial nerve V (trigeminal) is six pages long; the branches of the systemic arch take another five pages; and each muscle is described in terms of its anatomy, innervation, synonymy, function, and homology. An added benefit is that Francis lists the relevant literature for each organ system; nearly 850 references are cited. He discusses homologies between structures in Salamandra and those in other salamanders and other vertebrates. He also covers the taxonomy, distribution, and life history of the salamanders of the genus Salamandra.
James Hanken, a leading vertebrate morphologist at Harvard University, provides an extensive foreword that puts Francis’s book in historical context and reviews the relevant current literature. The book is illustrated with 25 highly detailed plates containing 84 fully labeled figures. There is an extensive index and a long historical introduction that reviews the classical literature on salamander biology beginning in the sixteenth century. |
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| Specifications: 465 pages, 7 x 10 inches, 25 plates, colored frontispiece, clothbound. ISBN 0–916984–50–8. | |||||||||
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| Price: $60.00 + postage
Non SSAR members may order here. SSAR members receive a 10% discount on all publications, including back issues of journals. Please email for a quote. Orders may also be sent to: Breck Bartholomew, P.O. Box 58517, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158–0517, USA (telephone and fax: area code 801, 562-2660; email: ssar@herplit.com). Please make checks payable to SSAR. Overseas orders must be paid in USA funds using a draft drawn on American banks or by International Money Order. Orders may also be charged to MasterCard, Visa, DiscoverCard, or American Express (please provide the account number and card expiration date). A complete list of all Society publications can be obtained on request to Breck Bartholomew. |
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